The spring semester is in full swing, and it is a joy to see students deep in their studies and participating in the many campus events and activities. Who knew that tickets to Fetty Wap would sell out in minutes? (Obviously you all did!)
This past weekend brought students together with their siblings. They participated in activities in University Commons and cheered on the Pioneers at the basketball games. Here’s hoping that some of our guests turn out to be future Pioneers!
Not only did siblings invade campus last weekend, but so did alumni. They celebrated the anniversary of our men’s basketball team’s Division II National Championship. More than 100 alumni and their families visited the Pitt Center to celebrate and honor the legendary team before enjoying the basketball doubleheader.
Congratulations to Mary Alice Donius, dean of our College of Nursing, who has been appointed to the board of directors for Danbury and New Milford Hospitals. Mary Alice’s expertise and knowledge of health care will greatly benefit this hospital system.
Next week, psychology professor Christina Taylor’s new book goes on sale. The book is titled OCD: A Workbook for Clinicians, Children and Teens; Actions to Beat, Control & Defeat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Congratulations on your book, Christina. We are confident it will do well.
Jennifer Mattei, ecology professor and biologist was featured in a piece about creating living shorelines. Jennifer talks about the work she has done to prevent erosion at Stratford Point and to give salt marsh vegetation the opportunity to grow. We applaud your environmental efforts, Jennifer. Great work!
This week was the official start to the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday brought many students and staff to the chapel to attend Mass and receive their ashes. You can find a feature on our new chaplain, Father Roby, on the SHU website where he talks about how impressed he is already with the participation of our community at services and programs. We look forward to hearing what you are doing for Lent and wish you well sticking to your Lenten goals.
I was happy to hear that a group of students from Stratford and Bunnell High Schools visited our motion capture lab to learn about our very successful gaming program. We hope they enjoyed seeing the technology and that maybe they’ll come back to SHU to pursue a career in gaming.
One of our alum, Alan Strauss, is making a difference in the world. Alan, principal at the Gilbert School in Winsted, has been awarded the Connecticut Association of Schools Principal of the Year Award for 2016. In the past three years, he’s also received two other outstanding administrator awards. We congratulate Alan and can’t wait to see what he does next.
If you haven’t seen it already, please be sure to check out the newest issue of our SHU magazine. Packed with articles and interviews on our students, faculty and alumni, it also includes updates on programs, initiatives and rewards. Beautiful photographs capture the buzz on campus and provide you with a wonderful glimpse of what happens here. It will provide some nice reading over this cold and blustery weekend.
Speaking of this weekend, we hope to see you at the SHU student dance performance, Love is in the Air, on Saturday at the Edgerton Center. The SHU Dance Company will perform to some of the best love songs of all time. Bring that special someone and enjoy the artistry and beauty of ballet and contemporary dancing.
Be sure to root on our Pioneers this weekend. On Friday the men’s volleyball team faces St. Francis University at 7. The women’s hockey team battles Neumann at 7 at the rink in Shelton and again on Saturday at 1. On Saturday, the women’s basketball team plays Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) at 1, and the men’s team plays CCSU at 3:30. The men’s volleyball team plays Penn State at 8. The men’s and women’s tennis teams will face Drexel at Yale at 5. On Sunday, the men’s and women’s tennis teams will play Colgate at Yale at 2. We wish all our teams, playing home and away, good luck! Go Pioneers!
Stay warm during this bitter cold weekend, and have a Happy Valentine’s Day!